The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-11-05

wants called me crazy, but I was not crazy any more than you are. Why are persons so afraid to be called queer2 They would rather have oth- CTS accuse them of immortality.
 "Hum a waltz for me-" she said, |'and l will show you what dancing l is."
 "But cannot sing at all,"I ob- jected.
 "You must" she declared, her eyes beginning to flash ominously. And frightened half out of my senses I tried to do her bidding, but had no more idea of tune than crow, and the sounds I made were not cheerful or inspiring. Her motions were cer- tainly very graceful, but she soon stopped. with disgusted expression, saying "Your voice sounds like the c.'eaking of some old rusty gate. How can anyone dance to such singing?"
 was not likely to leave the asylum with more exalted opinion of myself.
 "Do you think it strange" she asked, "that did not want to give up waltZing? Yet Leonard could not bear to see me whirling around in other mems arms, he said. AS if 1 cared for anyone but him! And when 1 waltzed all I wanted was fine music and good partner. It made no diff ference whether he was handsome or homely, pleasant or disagreeable. But Leonard could not understand my in- fatuation at all. promised him every i iVOn hO &1 ,,ks I would not join in the dance he disap- proved of so much, but when the mu- sicians played those delicious waltzes, and the couples went whirling around the room, my feet would begin to move in spite of me, and before re- ally knew what I was doing I would find myself within the magic circle, floating, floating, as if my ankles were endowed with wings, like Melcury's And when came back from heaven to earth again, there in some corner I would see my lover, with folded arms and frowning brow, watching my every movement.
 ''lt soon began to annoy and chafe me, and finally proposed to give up dancing parties altogether, admitting that had not the strength of mind necessary to resist the temptations there offered. But Leonard would not agree to it. He did not wish to be called a jealous tyrant, he told me.
 "'But, Minna,' he said one day, when we are married you will have 1 to give up waltzing. It is bad enough for young girl, but for married woman to indulge in promiscuous dancing is disgusting 1 never could allow it in my wife.'
 That aroused all the rebel within me. Not allowed to waltz! l, who had never been dictated to in my life, not even by my parents. They had, perhaps, been too yielding and in- dulgent for my good. And when Leonard expressed himself in that de- cided and dictatorial way, my whole soul rose in arms, hot, bitter words almost escaping my lips. But loved him, and with one great effort con- trolled myself, saying, however, Then, Leonard, l shall give up dancing par ties altogether, as I have already offered to do. I can no more resist the turing strains of the waltz than hunter the call of the horn.'
 "'That is all nonsense, Minna,' he said. You are not weak and yield ing like most girls. You have mind and will of your own if you choose to exercise them.'
 "'lt is just because I am not like other girls exclaimed, that I can not do as you ask. Whatever I enjoy at all, enter into with my whole heart and soul, not in trifling, pas- sionless way. Do you think there are many who would love you as I do, Leonardo" and threw my arm with half sob around his neck.
 "He held me tightly to him, press ing warm kisses upon my face. What an inexplicable little enigma you are ? he said at last. But, my darling, can you not make this one sacrifice for me? It is the only one I ask, and I expect to make great many for you. Married people have to do it, Minna.'
 "I half shook my head, and tried to change the conversation, hut he was very determined now, and finally said, Leonard, I promise faithfully that l will not dance once at Mrs. Ruggles' party, tomorrow night
 "We went to the party the next evening, and not single waltz did I miss. Leonard scarcely spoke to me on the way home, as 1 sat conscience stricken in the carriage by his side :; and the next evening he did not come to see me as usual. Then Eva Sar- gent appeared upon the scene. She } was cousin of Lilly Duggan's, one ot } those girls whom men always call so sweet Idfsliked her from the first, } but she and Mary fell in love with , each other in regular sentimental,